Turks and Caicos Islands

  

The Turks and Caicos Islands are the Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. The archipelago comprises two island groups- the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands. The Turks and Caicos Islands are located southeast of the Bahamas, north of Hispaniola. It is an autonomous part of the UK. Cockburn Town is the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Defense affairs are looked after by the UK.

HISTORY:- Arawaks were replaced by the Caribs in the islands. Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León explored the archipelago in 1512. The islands were passed from Spanish, to French, to British from the 16th to 18th centuries. In 1799 both the islands were annexed by the British as part of the Bahamas. In 1848, the islands were declared a separate colony under a council president. The islands became the dependency of Jamaica until 1959 when they were again declared a separate colony. After independence of Jamaica from Britain, the Turks and Caicos Islands became a crown colony in 1962.

GEOGRAPHY:-  Turks and Caicos Islands are located at 21 45 N, 71 35 W in the Caribbean. The archipelago comprises two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean. The islands occupy total 430 sq km area. The coastline is 389 km long along with the North Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Caribbean Sea (0 m) and the highest point is the Blue Hills (49 m). Turks and Caicos Islands comprise low, flat limestone and extensive marshes and mangrove swamps.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Turks and Caicos Islands is mostly tropical, marine, sunny and relatively dry, which is moderated by the trade winds.

GOVERNMENT:-  Turks and Caicos Islands are the overseas territory of the UK. The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order of 2006 is recognized as the formal constitution of the archipelago. The legal system is based on the England and Wales laws with minor influences of the laws of Jamaica and The Bahamas. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Queen Elizabeth II (chief of state), the Premier (head of government), and the cabinet. The Queen is represented by the Governor. The governor is appointed by the monarch. The leader of the majority party is appointed the premier by the governor. The cabinet, consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers, is appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

People's Democratic Movement or PDM and Progressive National Party or PNP are the principal political parties of Turks and Caicos Islands. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

Queen              Elizabeth II

Governor          Gordon Wetherell

Premier             Michael Misick

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Turks and Caicos Islands are composed of six administrative districts.

CULTURE:- Turks and Caicos Islands are popular for the ripsaw music.

ECONOMY:- Tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing are the pillars of the economy of Turks and Caicos Islands. Fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts are the major sources of government revenues.

GDP/PPP (2002 est.): $216 million; per capita $11,500.

Real growth rate: 4.9% (2000 est.).

Inflation: 4% (1995).

Unemployment: 10% (1997 est.).

Arable land: 2%.

Agriculture: Corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish.

Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.); about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services (1997 est.).

Industries: Tourism, offshore financial services.

Budget:  

Revenues: $47 million

Expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)

Natural resources: Spiny lobster, conch.

Exports: $169.2 million (2000): lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells.

Imports: $175.6 million (2000): food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials.

Major trading partners: U.S., UK (2004).

Monetary unit: U.S. dollar

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language of Turks and Caicos Islands but Turks and Caicos Islands Creole is also widely spoken in the islands.

CITIES:- Capital of Turks and Caicos Islands is Cockburn Town while the largest city of the archipelago is Providenciales.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of Turks and Caicos Islands is 21,746 with an average growth rate of 2.7%.

Density per sq mi: 131

Literacy rate: 98% (1970 est.)

RACE:-

Black 90%

Mixed, European, or North American 10%

RELIGION:-

Baptist 40%

Anglican 18%

Methodist 16%

Church of God 12%

Other 14% (1990)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 21.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births ]

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.19 years

Total fertility rate: 2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

UNICEF:- UNICEF in the nation is focusing on the child protection on the issues like adoption of children, the legal status of children, advocacy and juvenile justice. UNICEF is rigorously working to set back teenage mothers to school to complete their education. Awareness campaigns are organized to make the youth aware on the HIV as well as sample lessons are tested in pilot schools of the schools of the island. UNICEF also fights against child labour, and violence against children. The Eastern Caribbean region is free from Measles, polio and smallpox.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 121 km; paved: 24 km; unpaved: 97 km (2000).

Ports and harbors: Grand Turk, Providenciales.

Airports: 8 (2001).